BCCI to develop green stadia under Go Green initiative: Anurag Thakur

Vijayawada: The BCCI has written to the Union Ministries of Power and Environment to guide it in developing green stadia as part of its new 'Go Green' initiative, its new chairman Anurag Thakur said yesterday.

"We have earmarked Rs 100 crore for our 'Go Green' initiative, wherein existing cricket stadia across the country are being converted into green stadia. We have already written to the Central ministers of Power and Environment to guide us in this regard," Thakur said in a brief interaction with the media.

He was speaking after inaugurating two new cricket grounds developed by the Andhra Cricket Association and the Krishna District Cricket Association at Mulapadu village.

"We are putting up solar panels in all stadiums for power generation. We will have rain water harvesting structures in place. We will use sewerage water, treat it and reuse it for the grounds. We will also use LED bulbs to bring in energy efficiency. We will also do an energy audit to make the green stadia," Thakur elaborated.

He said some state cricket associations like Maharashtra and Karnataka have done well in solar and other environment issues, water treatment or rain water harvesting.

"We have asked those associations also to guide us," he added.

Asked if some state cricket associations were not living up to expectations, the BCCI chief observed, "See, all fingers are not equal, but everyone has a role to play. Every unit is important to us. A few may have lagged behind...many have done extremely well, many have lived up to the expectations. But then, even in a family, everyone is not equal if you look at the performance."

"So, I personally feel many learn from others. Andhra Cricket Association has set a benchmark. Others can learn from them and do well. We need to set standards and high standards," Thakur remarked.